The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ), the world's largest exchange company, has seen increased listings momentum through IPOs and listing applications during the second half of 2009. Year to date, NASDAQ OMX has won 15 IPOs that have raised $ 4.2 billion. Currently the exchange has 171 listing applications in the pipeline from sectors including biotech, technology and social media.
Recently, NASDAQ OMX welcomed Shanda Games which raised over $1 billion, more than any other Chinese IPO listed on NASDAQ. Shanda Games is the second Chinese IPO for NASDAQ this year, joining game developer Changyou.com which listed in April 2009. Greater China continues to be a key market for NASDAQ OMX, with a total of 116 listings. Other recent NASDAQ OMX wins included A123 Systems, Avago and Talecris Therapeutics.
"With the IPO market showing signs of revival, NASDAQ OMX continues to build momentum by winning the majority of IPOs coming to market across a variety of industry sectors," said Bruce Aust, Executive Vice President, NASDAQ OMX. "While we haven't seen a return to the levels we saw in 2006 and 2007, we are encouraged by the recent IPOs and the pickup in IPO and listing applications we've seen in the last several months."
This week, insurance industry risk specialist Verisk Analytics Inc. plans to list on NASDAQ, marking the largest U.S. initial public offering in the last 12 months. NASDAQ OMX continues to attract switches from NYSE Euronext with a total of 14 companies transferring to NASDAQ in 2009. These companies have a total value of over $13.1 billion and include Mattel Inc., R&R Donnelly & Sons, and Dreamworks Animation.